Sarkozy on the radar of French prosecutors

12 years ago | Posted in: Latest Politics News | 739 Views

France’s former president Nicolas Sarkozy would be forgiven for having a sleepless night on Friday.

After losing out to François Hollande in May’s presidential run-off vote, Sarkozy has kept a low profile.

After failing to win a second term in office, the former lawyer expressed his desire to re-enter the legal profession. His wish may be granted but not quite in the way he initially envisaged.

At 12.01am on Saturday, Sarkozy’s presidential immunity, a law which protects France’s head of states from prosecution, will be officially withdrawn.

Sarkozy will then be at the mercy of prosecutors and judges investigating a series of scandals related to illegal party funding and kickbacks which plagued his five years in office.

And with the loss of his immunity Sarkozy can now be hauled before judges to be questioned as a witness or even a suspect.

One source close to Sarkozy told France’s Europe 1 radio station the former president was “totally serene” at the prospect of being summoned, but many others see a rocky road ahead.

“He should be worried,” Professor Philippe Marliere of University College London told France 24. “It looks pretty damning.”

 

Prosecutors in France have already shown they will not hold back when it comes to taking on former heads of state.

In December 2011 Jacques Chirac’s political career was given an embarrassing post-script when a court found him guilty of misusing public funds during his time as mayor of Paris between 1977 and 1995.

Chirac was given a suspended prison sentence but he was spared the humiliating ordeal of attending trial because of ill-health.

If he finds himself in hot water Sarkozy is unlikely to be spared that luxury.

“This is only just starting for Sarkozy now,” UCL’s Marliere said. “It will go on for quite some time.”

 

Ref: http://www.france24.com/en/20120615-sarkozy-comes-under-radar-french-prosecutors-corruption-bettancourt-karachi

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